Church Services

1st Sunday
11.00 Family Service (see below for more information)

2nd, 3rd, 4th Sunday of each month
11.00 Holy Communion
Sunday School meets during the 11.00 Service.

5th Sunday of a month
5th Sunday Joint Benefice service; when there is a 5th Sunday in a month, the churches across the benefice come together to share a joint service. Each of these services are hosted by a different church. To find out more, please see the Grapevine.
 
 
Family Services
On the first Sunday of every month we have a “Family Service” at 11:00 am. These are short, relaxed, happy events designed for people of all ages celebrating our faith that we are children of our Heavenly Father and therefore part of one worldwide family.
Anything can happen in a family service: there will be something for the children to get involved in and a way they and the adults can learn together. There will be a mixture of modern and traditional music and some quiet reflective space with an opportunity to light a candle and say some prayers. Everyone is welcome

Communion Services
On every Sunday except the first there is a service of Holy Communion at 11:00 am. Children and adults begin the service together and then the children leave for their activities. They rejoin us towards the end of the service, when we report to each other what we have been doing.
Those remaining hear the Bible being read and explained and bring the needs of the world to God in prayer. Then we join in sharing the bread and wine of communion.
After the service there are always refreshments: we are proud of the quality of our coffee! Everyone is welcome.

Music at All Saints
There is a long history of music at All Saints. Generations of Okehampton people have been part of the church choir and we are proud to maintain that tradition.
We are pleased to have Stuart Payne as our organist and choirmaster with occasional assistance from Kevin Lane. We are keen to attract new members to the choir, please contact Stuart on paynestuart@hotmail.com The choir practices on a Wednesday evening and sings on Sunday morning.
Singing in a choir is a proven way of maintaining mental and physical health. As for children: well, many of our most famous singers began their musical career this way!

All Saints Church Hall
All Saints is fortunate to have a Church Hall sited in the town adjacent to the Cooperative Car Park. It is a great venue used by a variety of groups. Please contact Lynda Wesson lynda_wesson@sky.com or 01837 338005 for further information or to make a booking.
Church Information:
A Church has stood on this hill since Saxon times when the little hilltop village of Ocmundtune was closely grouped around its (probably wooden) Church and surrounded on all sides by dense forests. With the building of Okehampton Castle soon after 1066, present day Okehampton began to develop in the river valley and the little Saxon village was progressively abandoned.

It is certainly known that a Church existed here prior to the first recorded consecration by Bishop Bronescombe of Exeter in 1261. The lovely medieval building, which resulted from a further re-building in 1447, was destroyed by fire in 1842. It was rebuilt again to this plan, by Hayward. The 80 foot granite ashlar tower alone survived the blaze and was incorporated into the rebuilt Church which, although somewhat larger, was designed, more or less on the lines of the previous one. There are remains of the old stone reredos against the west wall of the south aisle. The organ is reputed to be one of the finest in Devon. The reredos is of stone and was built in 1891 by Hems and the choir stalls and altar rails date from 1892. The pulpit is a little older, having been installed in 1872. There are several fine stained glass windows in the church, notably one south window by Morris and Co. depicting St Cecilia and the Angels. The North Window is by the Kemp studios and others are by Ward and Hughes. In the Lady Chapel there is a small section of medieval glass displayed in a cabinet beside the altar.

Although the church is on the edge of the town we seek to be at the heart of the community and to serve it in the best way we can. We are a growing church, with a good range of ages and backgrounds. We have an active social programme and are trying to expand the range of our activities. On the first Sunday of the month, we have a family service in the morning at 11.00. This is designed to be a shorter service and although primarily is for the younger ages, there is something for everyone. Our Sunday School, or “Jam” meets on other Sundays during the 11:00 service. We try to offer a range of worship to suit all tastes from informal to formal, from modern to traditional.  All Saints, apart from being a lovely place to spend a quiet, reflective time, also has the distinction of having it’s own resident Church Mouse together with a dedication to someone with “a deep love of God’s animal world” who was “killed whilst out hunting.
If you wish to visit inside the Church at any time, you are most welcome to do so, but please contact the Rector or Churchwarden prior to your visit in order to request access.
 

 
Church Guidebook
We have available to buy at a cost of £4, a fully illustrated guide book detailing the history of All Saints Church and St James’ Chapel; written by Alan Endacott, a local historian and stained glass expert. Copies are available in All Saints Church and St James Chapel; alternatively copies can be obtained from the Museum of Dartmoor Life, Okehampton.
 
Safeguarding

All Saints, Okehampton PCC Safeguarding Policy Policy Statement for the Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults The following policy statement was agreed at the PCC meeting held on 23rd June 2021. As members of the PCC we commit our church community to the support, nurture, protection and safeguarding of all, especially the young and vulnerable. We recognise that our work with children, young people and vulnerable adults is the responsibility of the whole church community. We are fully committed to acting within current legislation, guidance, national frameworks and the Diocesan Safeguarding procedures. We will also act in an open, transparent and accountable way in working in partnership with the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, Children and Adult Social Care Services, the Police, Probation Services and other agencies to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. We welcome staff and volunteers who are recruited in accordance with the Church of England Guidelines on Safer Recruitment 2016.  This means we will ensure that those who are employed or who volunteer to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults are suitable for the role, that they know what the role entails and that they are supported in carrying it out.  Revd S Cook, Incumbent  Mrs Alex Just, Safeguarding Representative Mrs M Webber, Vice Chair of PCC This policy will be kept up to date through an annual review by the PCC and an ongoing review by the appointed Safeguarding Representative who will ensure any changes are put to the PCC for adoption in line with any changes of the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy which can be found here http://www.exeter.anglican.org/church-life/safeguarding/
The link to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team’s contact details is – exeter.anglican.org/resources/safeguarding/safeguarding-team   The Diocesan Safeguarding Officer is Charles Pitman 01392 345909. You can also contact Incumbent Revd Stephen Cook on 01837659297.

All Saints Parish Church
Rectory Road
Okehampton
Devon
EX20 1LW